Football Fills Void For Jordan

College football report - Central Florida practice

Ucf's Michael Jordan Expresses Love For A Game That Keeps Him On Campus.

August 15, 1993|By Jerry Greene of The Sentinel Staff

Just say the magic word - football - and Michael Jordan's eyes widen, his nostrils flare and a grin covers his face from sideline to sideline. It's like mentioning his one true love.

Actually, it is mentioning his one true love.

''Football is like my girlfriend,'' he said, nearly breathless from just talking about it. ''I love football.''

This Michael Jordan, obviously, is not the Michael Jordan. This one is the sophomore backup quarterback at the University of Central Florida.

This one is the nephew of Lee Roy Jordan, famed former linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys.

This one also is the younger brother of Terry Jordan, quarterback for North Carolina State.

This Michael Jordan comes from a football family that approves of his chosen love no matter what others think.

''Football is my life,'' he said. ''If I wasn't playing football, I probably wouldn't be in school. Some people may not like to hear that, but it's the truth.''

Jordan and 117 other Knights reported Friday and went through physicals Saturday. Two-a-day practices start Monday. Jordan is eager to practice.

''I'm so happy to be back,'' he said. ''I have arrows pointing straight toward my goals, and the first practice is the first arrow.''

Actually, Jordan has been crafting his own arrows all summer.

Jordan, a native of Tampa, believes it's a lie to talk about the off-season.

''I've been running, a whole lot of running,'' he said, ''then I did some lifting - and some more running.

''You've got to take football like a summer-school class. You've got to study for it like geometry or anything else.

''If you don't know something here, it's very easy for the world to see. Failing a test in class is not like failing in front of 20,000 fans.''

Once the season begins, it's questionable how many opportunities Jordan will have to show the world what he has learned. On the depth chart, he remains behind junior Darin Hinshaw, last year's starter.

Jordan subbed for Hinshaw last year during the Knights' 43-6 exhibition victory over the Moscow Bears. He completed 12 of 23 passes for 159 yards and two touchdowns. Other than that, he saw some mop-up work in two other games.

''Darin is starting, but don't call me No. 2,'' Jordan said. ''I never think of myself as No. 2. My time will come, and when it does, I'm going to be ready.''